Desiree: So, Joden Bob, tell us a little bit about how you came to Red Cedar:

Bob: I feel like I’ve been practicing Buddhism a long time but only formally since I started at Red Cedar.  How this happened though was by traveling around on a home exchange program and one of those trips was to San Francisco.

We like to use “the Lonely Planet” guidebook as my guide and one of the places it suggested to visit in San Francisco on a Saturday, was the San Francisco Zen Center.  It suggested dropping in and having a cup of tea and an introduction.  I told my partner, “I think I would actually like to do that! I’ve been reading about Buddhism for a long time and San Francisco Zen Center is an important piece of this whole puzzle including the history of the beatnik poets who occupied those walls—I’d like to go there!” So, I did! 

I had a little orientation and stayed after for tea, and was able to converse with Myozen Joan Amaral, who is now the guiding teacher of the Zen Center North Shore in Boston.  We talked about my experiences as a carpenter and farmer and she said, “Oh! You should come down to our monastery—Tassajara”, but I explained that I was only visiting CA for a few days. Later, though, I thought, maybe I could come back to the San Francisco Zen Center and stay for a few days and see what it’s like.  I did.  I stayed in a little cubicle in the basement and noted that it “kind of felt like home.” 

Then, at dinner one evening, in the common dining room, I was talking to an older woman there—turns out it was the great sewing teacher Blanche Hartman, who said, “Oh, if you are from Skagit County you need to go up and check out Red Cedar Zen in Bellingham.”

So, I came up to Red Cedar—maybe around 2010-2011. I came once and I’ve come ever since!  And, incidentally, I did go and spend 2 “work periods” at Tassajara, around 2013-2014.  I have also done quite a few Sesshins with our sister sangha, Mountain Rain, over the years.

I think what Buddhism offers is a “systematic approach” to understanding ourselves—without telling us how to do it! Take responsibility for yourself!—it encourages! Pay attention to that one bright thing! And it’s amazing to find that when you do let go of something, how much space opens up.

Desiree: I wanted to acknowledge and appreciate your many years on the Board—and as Board President—and, your many years as Tenzo (head cook) also!

Bob: Yes, it was six years in the capacity on the Board and also many as Tenzo!—And, every time I walk into Red Cedar lately, I think “wow! how did this happen?!”…Each step of the way, something just needed to be done and, I thought, ok—I’ll do it! But, yes, it was a long haul; when I did finally step down from the Board, it was a feeling of relief when it would dawn on me, “Oh! I don’t have to do this letter or this task anymore!”

I also want to say that my work in land conservation continues, which started long before my time at Red Cedar.  I was digging around in some files and came across a paper I’d written on the poetry of Gary Snyder. His writings and ethics are actually what brought me out here to the Pacific Northwest.  They really informed my posture about things—including wanting to be a carpenter and a shipwright and wanting to work with my hands.  So here was this paper from 1967 college days and how I was instinctively drawn to both his work and this region. 

When I look back now, 60 years later, I think his charge to us is to re-inhabit the earth and settle in, and make it your home, and I certainly feel like I’ve done that here. I think I’ve been able to help stabilize, in some small way, an extraordinary place for everyone.  My intention was not to create a legacy, but to answer a moment that needed to be answered and seemingly, it led to good results.

Here’s a little poem by Bob:

Skagit May

The golden chain tree

hangs its cascade

everywhere I look--

now that I know it's name. 

Please enjoy this fabulous article now in Fidalgo Living, featuring Bob's lifelong work in land conservation:

[Fidalgo article]

~interview by Desiree Webster